Broken back prompts apprentice electrician to chase footy career

Jobe Janeway's life took an unexpected turn two years ago when a motocross accident at Ararat, Victoria, resulted in a broken back. The then-teenager recalls the jarring incident vividly: "I was racing pretty well and then hit a pothole and kind of got thrown over the bars," Janeway said. "Because I'm pretty lanky for a bike, my legs went overhead and it's flung me."

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I was racing pretty well and then hit a pothole and kind of got thrown over the bars. Because I'm pretty lanky for a bike, my legs went overhead and it's flung me.

Initially cleared to go home to Mount Gambier, South Australia, his mother noticed persistent stiffness. Further medical checks in Adelaide revealed a wedge fracture and spinal compression. "That could have been a wheelchair, that could have been a lot of other things, you're just lucky it didn't happen," Janeway reflected, acknowledging the severity of his injury. The accident also meant a ban from physical contact sports for months, a period that inadvertently opened a new door.

During his recovery, Janeway explored Australian rules football, even winning a best player award at a local carnival. This newfound passion caught the attention of veteran SANFL talent scout Darren Trevena, leading Janeway to join Glenelg's under-18 squad. His progress has been rapid, earning him a spot in the South Australian state squad for the national championships.

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That could have been a wheelchair, that could have been a lot of other things, you're just lucky it didn't happen.

South Australian under-18s coach Tony Bamford sees significant potential in the tall ruckman. "He's mobile and he's got quite good coordination for a young lad who's so tall," Bamford noted. "What he has got in his favour is his skills, which are what I would say are above average for a player of his size." The commitment requires substantial family sacrifice, with five-hour trips from Mount Gambier to Adelaide for training and games.

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He's mobile and he's got quite good coordination for a young lad who's so tall; sometimes those tall kids are a bit unco for a period of time. What he has got in his favour is his skills, which are what I would say are above average for a player of his size.